If in case you have a Peacock subscription, you’re in luck this week, as a result of one of many greatest motion pictures of 2024 was simply made accessible to stream on the service: Dreamworks’The Wild Robotic. Whereas I initially missed the film in theaters, I just lately purchased it and have already watched it twice. Now I need to speak about one ingredient of the film that has me particularly stoked for the way forward for DreamWorks as a lifelong fan of the animation studio.
Look, as somebody who’s of their late twenties, I do know I’m not the core viewers for DreamWorks Animation movies, however that doesn’t imply I nonetheless don’t admire animated movies with each a part of my being and nonetheless exit of my solution to see them in theaters if I’m excited sufficient for one. Within the case of The Wild Robotic, I really meant to see it in theaters, however life simply piled up, and earlier than I knew it, it was not enjoying. Now that I’ve seen the film, let me gush about one ingredient that shocked me about it.
I’ve Been Watching DreamWorks Films My Complete Life, And I Typically Have One Gripe
Earlier than I get into The Wild Robotic particularly, I need to focus on my ideas on the historical past of Dreamworks Animtion for a bit. The studio has actually been releasing motion pictures since I used to be two years outdated, and I’ve watched most of them, so it holds an expensive place in my coronary heart.
Trying again, within the early days, DreamWorks did a mixture of 2D animated movies (The Prince Of Egypt, The Highway To El Dorado and Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron) and 3D animation movies like Shrek in fact, their first launch of Antz and Shark Story. I’m a giant advocate of watching my childhood favorites each on occasion to really feel what glimmer of childhood pleasure is left, and what I’ve observed is the 2D animated movies maintain up rather a lot higher than the 3D animated ones on a visible degree. I imply, the uncanny valley of watching Shark Story within the 2020s is nearly disturbing as of late.
Don’t get me fallacious, Shrek and a ton of different 3D motion pictures from the studio will at all times be classics no matter how expertise has modified, however I’ve realized DreamWorks’ extra landmark model of being a 3D animation home can look stale compared to different motion pictures within the medium being made immediately. I imply, simply have a look at the Spider-Verse motion pictures from Sony Animation!
However, Then I Watched The Wild Robotic At Dwelling
There are latest DreamWorks motion pictures like Kung Fu Panda 4 and Trolls Band Collectively that fall into the everyday model of the animation home, after which there’s the artistry of The Wild Robotic. Whereas the film is undoubtedly a computer-generated film utilizing the expertise present in different latest DreamWorks movies, for the primary time shortly I actually discovered myself in absolute awe of the manufacturing design, as a result of it delivered in a mode I’d by no means seen from the studio earlier than.
The film has a glance that feels hand-painted and actually so distinctive to something I’ve seen in a industrial animated film in a while. I think about the film being primarily based on the books by Peter Brown maybe influenced this model, but it surely made me really feel like I used to be experiencing one thing on a unique caliber than latest DreamWorks movies.
Not solely did the animation excite me, I really feel completely in keeping with CinemaBlend’s The Wild Robotic overview calling it “among the best DreamWorks animation movies ever”. Between its usually blunt and darkly hilarious jokes, it appears like a DreamWorks film, however just like the studio utterly upgraded itself to inform a timeless (but well timed) story that appears like a metaphor for parenthood and neighborhood. I’m not shocked in any respect that it’s among the many 2025 Oscar nominees for Finest Animated Movie and assume it has an actual likelihood of successful.
I Really Really feel Like I Missed Out On An Superior Theatrical Expertise
Whereas I nonetheless repeatedly go and see animated movies from different studios as an grownup, I’ll be sincere, I historically skip DreamWorks motion pictures of their first run and watch for a comfortable night time on the sofa. Nonetheless, after seeing The Wild Robotic at house, I used to be genuinely bummed I missed seeing it in theaters. It appears like the dimensions of the story and animation demanded to be seen on the largest display screen potential, and it will have been a candy night time out that will make for a great reminiscence with associates or household.
In a 12 months when animation is lastly getting its field workplace returns (with Moana 2 and Inside Out 2, for instance), it actually made me joyful to really feel this fashion about The Wild Robotic. It makes me excited in regards to the studio’s future and the way it might be taught that taking extra probabilities and time with its design and storytelling will really add to the longevity of the medium. The film wasn’t as gigantic because the Disney sequels that got here out this 12 months, but it surely was No. 1 its first weekend on the field workplace and should have made some returns off its $324.9 million worldwide haul.
I Hope DreamWorks Continues To Get This Inventive With Its Animation Model
With these factors in thoughts, my one large hope for DreamWorks going ahead is that it continues what it has began with The Wild Robotic. It’s been a very long time since a film from the studio has affected me in such a strong means and felt prefer it’s actually for any age bracket. The outcomes present that the work that was put into the venture mattered to audiences like me.
Going ahead, I don’t see a film within the works but from the studio that displays that need – particularly contemplating it consists of extra sequels like The Unhealthy Guys 2 and Shrek 5. Nonetheless, I’m undoubtedly paying extra consideration to what the studio does subsequent after The Wild Robotic, due to how a lot pleasure it introduced me.